For example we often enjoy Champagnes and sparkling wines during romantic settings. And, I’m sure most of us have shared a bottle of wine with someone during a romantic, candlelit dinner. These are romantic settings and when we fondly look back on these memories our thoughts of the wines are just that romantic. But are the wines themselves romantic or are we simply imprinting the emotions of the setting to the wines?

Do the aromas, flavors and textures of wines make them romantic? Perhaps there are certain biochemical reactions that occur in our brains when we taste specific combinations of flavors found in wines that create a romantic mind set? Or is it a combination of food and some wines that create this sense or aurae of romance?

Or maybe I’m just being too damn analytical. I think sometimes its better to let the moment carry you away. Don’t try to analyze it or over think it, just let the moment happen! We tend not to do that these days. So on this Valentines day make sure you spend time with that special someone you care about and let the setting, the meal and of course the wine carry the two of you away to the land of romance.

Happy Valentines Day. Cheers!

This past Saturday, we picked a nice batch of Blackberries from Knapp’s Farm on Greenbluff, WA.  While most of the berries are destined to be eaten fresh, end up in a batch of jam, and become a glorious pie, I had planned to make a savory blackberry glaze for grilled chicken.  The grilled chicken was the main course for a dinner party that included hors’ devours of  grilled, bacon wrapped goat’s milk gouda cheese bites, a cherry tomato orzo salad and a peach-rhubarb cobbler for dessert.

To complement the smoky bacon-cheese bites and the sweet, spicy goodness of the blackberry glazed chicken, while also not overwhelming the tomato-orzo salad, I selected a Washington wine that has become one of our family’s summer-time favorites – Hogue Cellar’s Terroir selection of Sangiovese Rosato.

Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, “the blood of Jove”.   Jove or Jupiter is the Roman equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon.   Sangiovese is most famous as the main component of the robust Chianti blend in Tuscany.  In this case, Hogue Cellars expertly reveals Sangiovese’s softer side.

2005 Hogue Terroir Sangiovese Rosato

Technical Information
Fruit	100% Sangiovesse
Vineyards	52% Zephyr Ridge, 48% Pheasant Vineyard
Appelation	52% Horse heaven Hills, 48% Wahluke Slope
Aging	The lot of rosé from Pheasant Vineyard was chilled near the end of fermentation to stop the yeast prematurely.
Alcohol	13.1%
pH	3.24
TA	0.65
R.S.	0.99 g/100 ml
Production	412 cases
Wine Maker	Jordan Ferrier
Price	Retail: $15.99 Wine Club: $11.70
Winemaker’s Notes	The Sangiovese grapes used in this rosé-style wine, were also the base for a hearty super-Tuscan style Sangiovese.  The rosé wine is ‘bled’ from the primary fermentation when there is a strong pink color and a touch of flavor that would otherwise be lacking in a blanc de noir wine. The lot of rosé from Pheasant Vineyard was chilled near the end of fermentation to stop the yeast prematurely. This contrib- uted the sweetness and a more floral, fruity character to the final blend.

Winery website: www.hoguecellars.com

The next time you reach for a rosé or just want to try something new, consider trying Hogue’s Terroir Sangiovese Rosato.  This is a refreshing wine with a character and depth of flavors not often found in a rosé.  To obtain a bottle (or three) plan on visiting Hogue’s website or their tasting room in Prosser, WA.  The Terroir line of wines is available only at the tasting room or for those who decide to become a member of the Hogue Cellars Wine Club.

Hogue Cellars Wine Club

wineclub@hoguecellars.com

(509) 786-6108

Barbecued Ribs!

I must confess that I love pork.  Especially during the summer when ribs become the main event at our house.  A few evenings ago we enjoyed a couple racks of baby back ribs, mustard potato salad, barbecue beans and a huckleberry cobbler for desert.  The ribs were cooked on my smoker for the better part of the afternoon until the meat was just ready to fall of the bone.  Just prior to plating, the ribs were slathered with a simple Carolina style sauce (yes, in BBQ speak “slathered” is a technical term).  To accompany this barbecue delight I like a wine that can stand up to the smoky, spicy ribs while not overpowering the rest of sides.  Zinfandel is the clear choice here.  I am not talking about the mass produced White Zin stufff either!  It is the quintessential barbecue wine with a wide range of flavors and styles, making it the perfect companion for the grill.

Zinfandel is considered California’s red-wine grape because it’s not widely grown in other parts of the world.  Zinfandel vines were brought to California by Agoston  Haraszthy (known as “the father of California wine”) in the 1850s.  By the 1880s this variety was rapidly gaining acceptance by growers, and today California is the largest grower of Zinfandel.

For years Zinfandel’s origins were very mysterious.  Now, however, a relationship between Zinfandel and Primitivo (a variety grown in Italy’s PUGLIA region) has been established.  In 1994, Zinfandel and Primitivo grapes were shown to be genetically nearly identical. Further DNA analysis reveals that the Zinfandel varietal has its roots in Croatia. Both Zinfandel and its sister grape, the Italian Primitivo, appear to have come from the varietal Crijenak Kasteljanski, although all three now have distinctly different characteristics.

Zinfandels are hearty, rich, dense wines with intense fruit and spice flavors rounded out by oak.  Flavors common in many Zins include:

• red and black cherry,
• blackberry,
• raspberry,
• blueberry,
• plum
• cinnamon,
• clove,
• black pepper, chocolate character,
• jamy,
• vanilla,
• eucalyptus and mint.

There are many excellent options to choose from today, so rather than making any winery specific recommendations, I strongly encourage you to grab a bottle or two of Zinfandel the next time you are in the wine section of your local supermarket or in your favorite wine shop. Get out there, fire up that barbecue and enjoy all that Zinfandel has to offer.  It won’t let you down. Cheers!

Wine and Food Pairing: Raspberries and Vinho Verde Rosé

This week, I spent some time picking red raspberries from one of our local farms. The berries are just starting to ripen and while I was able to pick a nice batch of sweet, red gems, the best are yet to come.  As I was in the field plucking the berries from the vines my mind began to wander, and I began to think about what I might make with the raspberries.  As is the case when I think about food my thoughts naturally tend to drift to what wines to pair with the meals I will make.  In this case I like fruity Rosé wines with a semi-soft, and slightly citrus finish that complements the acidity in the raspberries. While there are many Rosés I could pair with the raspberries, I thought I’d offer a choice that many of you may have heard of before, but not necessarily in its Rosé incarnation – Vinho Verde Rosé.

First a little bit background about Vinho Verde (vee-no ver-dh) wines and their origin.  The Vinho Verde region of Portugal, known as the Minho (min-nyew) region, after the river that forms the border with Spain, is Portugal’s largest wine region.  Producing both red and white wines, this northwest corner of Portugal is typically known for producing light, refreshing, and budget friendly white wines.  The name Vinho Verde translates as “Green Wine” and does not refer to the color but rather the tradition of drinking the wines while they are young (most are generally drunk within a year of bottling).  Typical Vinho Verde wines are light, golden colored wines ranging from 9 to 11% alcohol.

This week’s selection however is the aforementioned Rosé made from the Espadeiro grape.

Wine:                  Arca Nova Rose 2008

Winery:               Quinta das Arcas

Vintage:               2008

Varietal:               Espadeiro

Country:              Portugal

Region:                Vinho Verde

Retail Price:          $ 6.99 USD

Style:                   Refreshing, easy drinking and low in alcohol

This great wine is bright pink, with fresh aromas, typical of the ancient grape variety used for this wine. It has good structure and a good balance between the alcohol and acidity, with a hint of the traditional “agulha” or sparkling effect representative of classical Vinho Verdes. Red fruits and berries characterize the finish.